UEFA Champions League play-offs draw: Manchester City face Real Madrid as giants collide, Celtic meet Bayern Munich

Updated 31/01/2025 at 13:34 GMT

European giants are set to collide in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs after Manchester City were pitted against Real Madrid. It means only one of the competition’s last two winners will progress to the last 16, highlighting the importance of a top-eight finish in the league phase. Meanwhile, Celtic have a tough test against Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain face Brest.

Erling Haaland

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Manchester City will take on holders Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs, while Scottish champions Celtic meet Bayern Munich.

City squeaked into the top 24 in the league phase on the final day with a 3-1 win over Club Brugge, but their low ranking means an early winner-takes-all showdown with Carlo Ancelotti's European giants.

Celtic have less than a fortnight to work out how to contain Harry Kane and his goal-hungry colleagues, having shipped seven goals against Bayern's Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund in October.

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Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain face surprise package Brest in an all-French affair, while Juventus play PSV Eindhoven.

The new bracket format meant each team could only be drawn against one of two possible opponents based on the final standings in the league phase, with City and Celtic already knowing that either Real or Bayern awaited them.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa are already through to the last 16 courtesy of a top-eight finish. They will discover their opponents in the next draw on February 21.

The first legs will take place on February 11 and 12, with the return matches on February 18 and 19.

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Video credit: Eurosport

UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw

Club Brugge v Atalanta
Sporting CP v Borussia Dortmund
Manchester City v Real Madrid
Celtic v Bayern Munich
Juventus v PSV Eindhoven
Feyenoord v AC Milan
Brest v Paris Saint-Germain
Monaco v Benfica

UEFA Champions League knockout phase bracket

UEFA Champions League 2024-25 bracket

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